The program at this year’s festival also includes a celebration of the music of political activist and American folk music icon Pete Seeger. Find out more about Kronos and Watkins’ collaboration > Peace Be Till memorializes King and his amazing ability to empower the masses to demand justice while bridging America’s history of oppression to the subjugation of the present. and Clarence Jones’ powerful voices, Watkins’ composition was drawn from the inherent musical qualities of speech and how they affect people emotionally. Jones’ first impression of King is featured in the piece: “Never had I heard any human being on two legs with a voice-never, never, ever had I heard anyone speak like that! It was mesmerizing! It was spellbinding." He described King’s speeches as "a symphony of social justice". Watkins interviewed Jones to listen and gather musical inspiration from his own emphatic voice and natural tempo. He had been particularly impressed by the musical qualities of King’s resonant voice. Jones was not only King’s personal lawyer and speechwriter he was also a trained clarinetist who studied at Julliard. “When you start adding things up, Martin Luther King surrounded himself with musicians," Harrington mused, referring specifically to Mahalia Jackson and also Clarence Jones. Watkins’ academic background and praised work with Black Spirituals led to Kronos’ collaboration with him on Peace Be Till, which debuted at Carnegie Hall on January 19th of last year. Harrington discovered Oakland-based composer Zachary James Watkins, known for his duoBlack Spirituals, whose emotive improvisation serves as a vehicle for African-American resistance music. was two-thirds of the way into his speech at the March on Washington, Mahalia Jackson shouted from behind the podium, "Tell 'em about the dream, Martin." King set aside his script and began to improvise the speech's most memorable passage of “I Have a Dream”, thanks to Jackson, widely regarded as the Queen of Gospel.ĭavid Harrington heard about this historical moment on the 50th anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech in 2013 and started brainstorming a way to musically retell the story. On August 28th, 1963, when Martin Luther King, Jr.
They reimagine the works of 20th-century masters, contemporary composers, jazz legends, rock artists and even more. Kronos has earned more than 40 awards, including a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2004. They have become one of the most praised ensembles of today for their expansive recording repertoire, touring history, and collaborative endeavors. As a quartet, they strive to fearlessly explore new musical territory, dedicated to reinventing the string quartet format with every piece. Kronos’ current lineup includes violinists David Harrington (founder) and John Sherba, violist Hank Dutt, and cellist Sunny Yang.
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